My thoughts on the Phillies season.

Ibanez’s walk-off, two-run home run in the bottom of
the ninth lifts the Phillies over the Padres, 5-4.

With the Phillies’ trailing 4-3 in the bottom of the ninth, and with a runner on first and nobody out, Raul Ibanez hits a 2-0 changeup into the right field seats to give the Phillies a dramatic, come from behind victory over the presently hot Padres.

The Padres took the lead in the third inning using some fundamental baseball. First, Everth Cabrera started the inning off by getting on base with a bunt single in front of the plate, beating out Chris Coste’s throw to first. Josh Geer then moved Cabrera over to second with a sacrifice bunt to Ryan Howard, 3-unassistant. Jody Gerut then followed with an RBI single to right, knocking in Cabrera, giving the Padres a 1-0 lead. Edgar Gonzalez then followed with an RBI triple on a ball misplayed by Raul Ibanez that got past him, going all the way to the fence, as Gerut crossed the plate to make it 2-0 Padres. It became 3-0 Padres as Gonzalez scored on a Brian Giles ground out to the second baseman, 4-3, for the inning’s second out. The Padres then made it 4-0 in the fifth, as Gonzalez hit a two-out, solo home run, his fifth home run of the year. But, that would be it for the Padres, as the Phillies’ bullpen would proceed to this time shut the Padres down for the next four innings. In the meantime, the Phils’ batters would slowly nibble at the Padres’ lead. After being unable to score a run in the first five innings against Padres’ starter Geer, the Phillies would finally got some runs across in the sixth, as Chase Utley hits a one-out, two-run home run, his fourth home run of the season, knocking in Eric Bruntlett, who had earlier reached base on Padres shortstop’s Luis Rodriguez’s throwing error, going on to second on the errant throw. The Phils then cut the lead down to 4-3 in the eighth as pinch hitter Jimmy Rollins hit a lead-off, pinch hit home run, his first home run of the year. In the ninth inning, with the score still 4-3 Padres, the Padres sent Edwin Moreno to the mound for the save. He was greeted with a bloop single by Howard, his third hit of the day. Ibanez then came to the plate, and after getting ahead in the count, 2-0, hit the next pitch into the right field seats for a two-run, walk-off home run, his fifth home run of the season, knocking in Howard, and giving the Phils a 5-4 win.

Chan Ho Park, started the game for the Phils, getting a no-decision as he pitched five innings, giving up four runs on eight hits and a walk, while striking out three. J.A. Happ then pitched three scoreless innings in relief, giving up just three hits and a walk, as he struck out two. Clay Condrey got the win as he pitched a scoreless ninth, giving up just a hit. His record is now 2-0 with an ERA of 3.38. Josh Geer also received a no-decision as he pitched seven strong innings, as he gave up just two runs, only one of which was earned, on six hits, as he struck out four. Edward Mujica held the lead for the Padres as he pitched a inning in relief, giving up one run on one hit, while striking out one. Edwin Moreno took the lost as he blew his first save of the year, giving up two runs on two hits, as he pitched to two batters. His record is now 0-1 with a 2.57 ERA.

The Phillies had nine hits in the game, with Ryan Howard leading the way with three hits, a triple and two singles, while scoring a run, as he raised his average to .341. Raul Ibanez followed with two hits, a double and a home run, knocking in two runs while scoring a run, as he lifted his average to .386. Chase Utley, Shane Victorino, Pedro Feliz and Jimmy Rollins had the other four hits, with Utley’s hit being a two-run home run, while Rollins’ was a pinch hit solo home run.

The Phillies (5-6, 4th) with conclude their four-games home stand with the Padres (9-4, 2nd National League West) with a night game tonight, weather permitting. The game will be played at Citizens Bank Park and will start at 7:05 pm Eastern. The Phillies will send to the mound Jamie Moyer (1-1, 6.55), who is coming off a victory against the Nationals on April 13, as he pitched six innings, giving up four runs on eight hits and two walks, while striking out five in the Phils’ emotional 9-8 victory, on the day Harry Kalas died. He will be trying for his second straight win, which trying to cut down on the number of runs he has been giving up so far this season. He will be opposed by Kevin Correia (0-1, 4.09), who is coming off a lost at the hands of the Mets on April 15, where he went five innings, giving up two runs on five hits and two walks, as he struck out five, in the Padres’ 7-2 lost. He will be trying for his first win of the year. The Phillies hope to end the series at two-wins apiece, before they host the Milwaukee Brewers for a three-games series, starting tomorrow night.

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